Bipolar Symptoms In Young Adults Linked To Cannabis

New research by the University of Warwick has revealed that cannabis use in youth is associated with bipolar mood disorder symptoms in young adults.

Adolescent cannabis use was found to be an independent risk factor for future hypomania – periods of elated mood, over-active and excited behaviour, and reduced need for sleep that are often experienced as part of bipolar disorder and have a significant impact on day-to-day life.

The research, led by Dr Steven Marwaha, a clinical academic psychiatrist, used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children and found that teenage cannabis use at least 2-3 times weekly is directly associated with suffering from symptoms of hypomania in later years. There was a dose response relationship such that any use still increased the risk but less powerfully.

Hypomania Association

The research is the first to test the prospective association between adolescent cannabis use and hypomania in early adulthood, whilst controlling for important other factors that might explain this connection, for example psychotic symptoms.

Cannabis use was also found to mediate the association of both childhood sexual abuse and hypomania, and male gender and hypomania.

The findings suggest frequent adolescent cannabis use is likely to be a suitable target for interventions that may allay the risk of young people developing bipolar disorder.

Commenting on the research, Dr Marwaha said:

“Cannabis use in young people is common and associated with psychiatric disorders. However, the prospective link between cannabis use and bipolar disorder symptoms has rarely been investigated. Adolescent cannabis use may be an independent risk factor for future hypomania, and the nature of the association suggests a potential causal link. As such it might be a useful target for indicated prevention of hypomania.”

Cannabis is one of the most commonly used illegal substances of abuse in western countries. Problematic use in the general population is as high as 9.5% in the United States.

Support for the work was provided by The UK Medical Research Council, and Wellcome, and the University of Bristol.